As l stepped into the world of God's love for children's ministry, I knew l was in for a journey of a lifetime. The warm smile of the staff and the friends across the world, the curious eyes of the children, and the sense of community that filled the air all drew me in. l had decided to volunteer, and little did I know that experience would change me in ways I never thought possible.
My first day was of introductions and getting to know the children. They were full of help with the younger kids and as I played with them, I saw the world their eyes full of wonder and excitement.
As the days turned into weeks, I began to form strong bonds with the children. They would share their stories, dreams and fears with me. l listened, offered words of encouragement and cheered them on as they achieved small victories. We played games, did crafts and had picnics together. with each passing day. I felt my heart growing more connected to these precious lives.
There were moments of challenge too. Some days were tougher than others, and I faced moments of frustration and doubt. But the staff’s support, the children's resilience, and the ministry's love and care helped me push through. I saw the children face their own challenges and with patience was powerful for growth and Through my experience, I discovered a sense of purpose and meaning, working with the children. I realised the importance of patience, empathy, and understanding. I learned to see the world through their eyes and appreciate the beauty of simplicity.
As I navigated the challenges of volunteering. I grew both personally and spiritually. I developed new skills, such as communication and problem-solving and I became more confident in my abilities. Most importantly, I learned to approach life with a sense of humility and gratitude.
The relationship I formed with the staff and children were a highlight of my time at the ministry. I was inspired by the staff's dedication and joy was contagious. These connections taught me the value of community and the impact we can have on each other's lives.
God's Love for Children has been supporting the orphans and needy children in the community of Njeru since 2017 as a volunteer group of people who came together to improve the living standards of the community children through Christian education, providing materials and supporting their health. The education of the world's children is high on the global agenda. In the context of EFA (Education for all) all children should receive free, good quality education. The reality is that millions of the world's children are too poor to benefit from the declaration, unless there are special interventions that target their development. Unfortunately children often get overlooked as adults have a greater impact on the community and hence are most often targeted for aid. At God's Love for Children we seek to change that in this community.
We have two farm plots where we grow corn, beans, and cabbages to supplement our food supply. Its also a great way for the kids to learn about hard work. We also have pigs, goats, and chickens which we have for teaching, not eating. They teach the kids responsibility.
We teach all the basics in both our native language Lugandan and English. We have 200 students.
We have 32 Orphans who board with us. Support is very important to children, and we are one big family